American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 36, 819-822, Copyright © 1982 by The American Society for Nutrition

Nutrition policies for the elderly

¹ From the Swanson Center for Nutrition, Inc, Omaha, NE 68105

Major policy issues should include the following.

1) Continuation and expansion of the title VII nutrition program for older Americans, providing opportunity for the elderly paying customer to participate and that meals be provided daily.

2) Modification of the Dietary Guidelines as published by HEW and USDA for the elderly. Such guidelines should be practical and related to foods and quantities instead of glib generalizations.

3) Policies should stress the need for assessment of nutritional status for elderly entering meal programs, nursing homes, or health care facilities. This base-line should be used to define and monitor nutrition problems and evaluate progress. Reimbursement for nutrition assessment should be covered by Medicare.

4) Nutrition education models for the elderly should be evaluated by the elderly to insure practical benefit.

5) The Food Industry should reevaluate the market for the elderly, addressing such problems as: container size, ease of opening, and the possible need for special food fortification.

6) Policy should enunciate that food programs have a much broader implication than just nutrition, such as the social and psychological benefits.

7) Nutrition research should be directed toward investigation of nutrient needs for the aging. Special emphasis should be placed on the role of nutrients in the aging process of nerve and brain cells.